Muddy Footprints - Five Children's and Families Trust

My name is Adele, and I am proud to have been part of Five Children & Families Trust Ltd since 2015. Throughout my time with the organisation, I have had the privilege of working across a variety of roles and gaining valuable experience within different areas of the nursery. This has enabled me to develop a strong understanding of early years practice, children's individual needs and the importance of creating a warm, nurturing and inclusive environment for every child and family.

I have predominantly worked within the Baby Room, where I have developed a wealth of experience in caring for and supporting our youngest children. Working with babies has allowed me to develop a strong understanding of the importance of secure attachments, responsive care, communication, routines and providing children with opportunities to explore and develop at their own pace. I have always valued building positive and trusting relationships with children and their families and ensuring that every child feels safe, welcomed, valued and supported.

As my experience, confidence and knowledge developed, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to progress into the role of Deputy Manager at our Muddy Footprints – Parklands setting. This was an important step in my professional development and provided me with the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities, support the wider staff team and develop my leadership and management skills.

During my time as Deputy Manager, I gained valuable experience in supporting the day-to-day running of the setting, working alongside colleagues, children and families, and helping to maintain high standards of care, learning and safeguarding. I particularly valued the opportunity to support colleagues, share my knowledge and contribute to creating a positive and welcoming environment for everyone.

Following this, our setting later merged with the Five Children & Families Trust site. This brought further opportunities for me to broaden my experience, work alongside new colleagues and continue developing professionally within the organisation. Throughout these changes, I have remained committed to providing consistency, support and positive experiences for the children and families we work with.

Professional development has always been important to me. During my time with Five Children & Families Trust Ltd, I have completed a wide range of training to strengthen my knowledge and enhance my practice. This includes achieving my Level 3 SENCO qualification and becoming a Level 4 Wellbeing Champion, alongside completing the ongoing training required within my role.

My training has strengthened my understanding of special educational needs and disabilities, inclusion, children's wellbeing, safeguarding, child development and effective early years practice. It has also helped me to recognise the importance of understanding each child as an individual and ensuring that their unique needs, interests and strengths are recognised and supported.

I believe that working in early years is about much more than providing care. It is about creating meaningful relationships, providing children with a strong sense of belonging, supporting their development and giving them the confidence to explore, learn and grow. I also believe that working in partnership with parents and families is essential in achieving the best outcomes for children.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to progress from working predominantly within the Baby Room to taking on leadership responsibilities and developing specialist knowledge in areas such as SENCO and wellbeing. I am proud of the journey I have taken and of the experience and knowledge I have gained throughout my time with Five Children & Families Trust Ltd.

I am a caring, committed and approachable member of the team, and I always strive to create positive relationships with children, families and colleagues. I am passionate about continuing to learn, develop and reflect on my practice, as I believe that there is always an opportunity to improve our knowledge and provide even better experiences for the children in our care.

Looking ahead, I am excited to continue contributing to Five Children & Families Trust Ltd, using my experience, knowledge and passion for early years to support children, families and colleagues. My aim is to continue developing both personally and professionally while always striving to be the best I can be in my role and make a positive difference to the children and families we support. Read less

Meet Laurie, our friendly and dedicated Deputy Manager and SENCO. Laurie has been an important part of our nursery team and has developed her career with us through hard work, commitment and a genuine passion for supporting children and families. Laurie originally joined the team as a practitioner working directly on the nursery floor, where she gained valuable hands-on experience caring for, supporting and nurturing children through their early years. During her time with us, Laurie has continued to grow in confidence, knowledge and experience, taking on additional responsibilities and progressing within the nursery to become our Deputy Manager and Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO).

Laurie is passionate about creating a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment where every child feels safe, valued and supported. As our SENCO, she takes particular pride in ensuring that children with additional needs receive the individualised support and encouragement they need to thrive. She works closely with children, families, colleagues and other professionals to understand each child's unique needs, strengths and interests and to ensure that appropriate support is in place.

Alongside her role within the nursery, Laurie is currently attending university and working towards her Level 7 qualification, demonstrating her commitment to continuing her professional development and expanding her knowledge and skills. She currently has her Level 6 in Early Years.

Laurie is approachable, caring and always happy to have a chat with parents and carers. She believes that strong relationships with children and families are at the heart of everything we do and is committed to working in partnership with families to ensure every child has the best possible start in their early years. Laurie is a wonderful example of how professional development, dedication and a passion for early years can create opportunities to grow and progress within our nursery. Read less